Yunior Terry

Yunior Terry bass, violin & composer.



Yunior Terry was born in Camaguey, Cuba and is the youngest son in a family of musicians. His father Don Pancho Terry is the undisputed master of the Chekere as well as the founder and leader of Maravillas de Florida one of the most highly respected Charanga groups in Cuba. Following this path and tradition. Yunior Terry started his formal music education at the age of seven taking up the violin at the Luis Casas Romero School in Camaguey. He was invited at the age of eleven he was invited to join the string section of the Symphony Orchestra for a tour to Havana to participate at the National Contemporary Music Festival. Mr. Terry participated in varies violin competitions receiving the first price in 1989 for the best interpretation of Cuban music. He continued his music education at the National School for the Arts in Havana where he began playing the bass and graduated with a double major in 1994. This same year joined the Havana National Philharmonic touring to Argentina during the Opera Season. While in he Philharmonic Mr. Terry had chance to work under Leo Brower, Jorge Luis Prats and Frank Fernandez. In 1996 Mr. Terry joined travel for a yearlong tour Up with People (an organization that promotes freedom and equality) and spent a year touring internationally with the group. In 1998 Mr. Terry moved to California to attend the California Institute of Arts where he received his Bachelor Degree with honors in 2002. It was at CalArts where he continued to expand his musical horizon studying under Charlie Haden, Rajeev Taranath ( India) and Alfred Ladzekpo from Ghana. Upon graduation he moved to New York City where he stays busy with both the local music scene and through touring with; Lila Downs, Steve Coleman, Jerry Gonzales and Fort Apache, The Latin Jazz All Stars which included the late Hilton Ruiz, as well as Steve Turre, Giovanni Hidalgo, Dave Valentin, Mario Rivera, Ray Vega. In addition he is touring with Jeff Tain Watts, Eddie Palmieri, Pete Escovedo and Sheila E, Dafnis Prieto, Claudia Acuna , Jane Bunnett and his brother Yosvany Terry.